Cleveland Browns: What happened with Alex Smith? -- Terry Pluto

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Why didn't the Cleveland Browns find a way to trade for Alex Smith?

They were involved in the talks with the Kansas City Chiefs. There was at least one second-round pick and other choices involved. But Kansas City eventually traded the veteran quarterback to Washington for what seems on the surface to be a modest price: a 2018 third-round pick and defensive back Kendall Fuller.

So what happened?

1. Lost in the analysis of the deal is Fuller, a 22-year-old defense back. I talked to one executive who considers Fuller a first-round talent. He is still on his rookie contract, having two years and $1.8 million remaining.

3. Pro Football Focus reported quarterbacks had the NFL's lowest passer rating throwing to slot receivers covered by Fuller. He is very highly regarded. The Browns had no young, cheap and extremely talented defensive back in his class.

4. Smith made it clear he was not interested in being "a bridge quarterback," having the starting job for a year or two and mentoring a younger player to be his replacement.

5. Smith is 34 and he believes he can start for several years. The NFL is an old man's game when it comes to quarterbacks: Tom Brady (40), Philip Rivers (36), Drew Brees (39), Ben Roethlisberger (35), Aaron Rodgers (34) and Smith (34). Those are all top 10 rated quarterbacks in various categories.

6. Smith had a year left on his contract. He wanted a new multi-year deal where he'd be paid like an elite QB. ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported Smith will sign a four-year deal with $70 million guaranteed. Full value is $94 million.

7. One executive told me that it's probably closer to $50 million guaranteed. The $70 million is in case of a major injury.

8. I heard the Browns weren't anxious to make a long-term commitment to Smith because they still are strongly leaning toward taking a rookie quarterback at No. 1.

10. The Browns also were not anxious to trade one of their top young players as part of a package for Smith. They want to add talent and use draft picks in trades and on draft day to do just that.

ABOUT KIRK COUSINS

1. When I heard about the Browns strongly leaning to drafting a QB at No. 1, I wondered what that meant for their pursuit of Kirk Cousins.

2. Cousins will become a free agent, replaced in Washington by Smith. Cousins is 29 and headed for the largest contract ever given an NFL quarterback, although I'm not sure he'd rank in the top 10. He has a 26-30-1 record as a starter. He has been surrounded by so-so talent for most of his five-year career.

3. Don't misunderstand, I'd love to see Cousins here. He should be in his prime. He immediately brings maturity and stability to the position. Cousins became a full-time starter three seasons ago. His record is 24-23-1. He's never missed a start. He completed 66 percent of his passes for 81 TDs compared to 36 interceptions.

4. But Cousins supposedly is looking for more than money. He wants a chance to win. He knows this is his opportunity to pick a team ready to contend -- or at least, one closer than the Browns.

5. When the Browns ripped down their roster, this was part of the cost. The Browns are viewed by many players as the NFL's Devil's Island. It's not the city. It's the constant extreme losing and the constant coaching and front office changes.

6. A big question is how does new general manager John Dorsey view the draft. If he is sold on one of the young quarterbacks, it's doubtful he'll sign Cousins.

7. My best guess is Cousins signs elsewhere primarily because the Browns are such an unattractive place at this critical stage of his career.

BARGAIN SHOPPING

1. I was talking to an NFL executive the other day about the Browns quarterback situation. At one point, I said. "I'll settle for a guy who has a clue of how to play the position, doesn't throw the ball to the other team and can pile up some first downs. I want a professional performance."

2. The executive laughed. I didn't. I explained he hasn't had to watch what Browns fans have endured nearly every season since 1999. We both agreed it was crucial for the Browns to find some type of veteran to open the season.

3. I wonder if the Buffalo Bills will try to trade Tyrod Taylor. The assumption has been the Bills would release the veteran quarterback, who is under contract for $16 million in 2018. If they cut him, they pay him $9.5 million.

4. But what if the Bills came to the Browns and could secure maybe a second-round pick?

5. Of course, the Bills would then need a quarterback. The Bills lost, 10-3, in the playoffs to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Taylor had an awful day (17-of-37 passing, 134 yards and an interception).

6. Taylor does two things I like: a) He doesn't throw interceptions. b) He is mobile but also durable.

7. Taylor is only 6-foot. He is 28 and in his prime. In three seasons as a starter with the Bills, he has a 22-22 record. He's thrown 51 TD passes compared to 16 interceptions.

8. He is rather mediocre. But even a dependable, mediocre quarterback would have helped the Browns win at least three games last season. Consider that DeShone Kizer threw 22 interceptions and had more interceptions in the red zone (6) than Taylor had all season (4).

9. The Browns could make a small deal for Taylor, perhaps sign him to an extension that is not outrageous -- and still draft a quarterback at No. 1.

10. The Bills may bid for Cousins. Their backup is Nate Peterman, who threw five interceptions (out of 14 passes) in his only start in 2017.

11. The Bills have picks No. 21 and 22 in the first round. Hard to imagine them finding a ready-to-start quarterback in those spots. They may settle on Taylor for another year, thinking new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll can help him. Yes, that's the same Brian Daboll who was a rookie offensive coordinator for the Browns in 2009-10. In 2017, he called plays for Alabama.

12. There are other possibilities. The Minnesota Vikings can't keep all three of their free agent QBs -- Sam Bradford, Teddy Bridgewater and Case Keenum. I've always liked Bridgewater. He has not started a game in two years because of a major knee injury. He is supposed to be healthy now, but that's a risk. The same with Bradford, who has a long history of knee injuries.

13. Josh McCown is a free agent. He will be 39 on July 4. After playing only 13 games in two seasons here because of various injuries, he stayed healthy for the first 13 games of the season with the Jets, which is another team looking for a quarterback.

14. McCown is a future coach, a wonderful role model for young quarterbacks. He certainly would qualify as a "bridge," but my fear would be a major injury early in the season. That would leave the Browns with DeShone Kizer and a rookie as quarterback options.

15. The Chicago Bears are expected to cut Mike Glennon. He started the first four games of 2017, then Chicago replaced him with rookie Mitchell Trubisky. He's not awful, but doesn't generate much excitement.

16. I have written before how Dorsey likes Chase Daniel. He signed Daniel in 2013, the same year he acquired Alex Smith for the Chiefs. Daniel has been in the NFL for eight years and has started only two games. He's thrown 78 passes, one TD and one interception. The small sample size of stats reveal nothing. He has backed up Drew Brees and Alex Smith in his career.

17. Then there's AJ McCarron. The Browns tried to work a deal for him at the trade deadline, and it fell through. The Bengals backup has a relationship with Hue Jackson dating back to their days in Cincinnati together.

18. McCarron's status is still in doubt. He'll either be a restricted or unrestricted free agent. McCarron started three games in 2015 when Cincinnati starter Andy Dalton was injured. He was 2-1 with six TD passes compared to two interceptions. He looked pretty good. He's thrown only 14 passes in the last two seasons.

19. I prefer McCarron to Glennon, McCown and Daniel. But really, who knows? He has played so little.

20. I go back to where I started. The Browns must find a viable veteran to open the season at quarterback. I'm mildly intrigued by Taylor.